. >> we could tax all the rich people and cut their heads off and it would not help the fiscal cliff. >> reporter: talk now of a smaller deal that extends bush tax rates for the middle class and extends unemployment benefits. but puts off major spending cuts and reform to entitlements like medicare. >> we're going to end up with a small, kick the can down the road bill that creates another fiscal cliff to deal with with fiscal cliff. >> reporter: lawmakers are talking about how to retroactively avoid going off the fiscal cliff on a new congress. >>> the fiscal cliff debate is impacting people here in the bay area who's lives could dramatically change as soon as tomorrow. tom vacar is live at a highway work site in oakland and has the story of one woman and her looming fear. tom-- >> reporter: the people who work here are well paid and they're onvacaon. but for other people, the fiscal cliff might as well be a financial guillotine. though ilea thomas searches, she's been out of work for two years picking up any odd jobs as much as she can. >> it's been discouraging. i come in here thre